RACE WINNER: KURT BUSCH!!!
Kurt Busch: 1st (started 15th)
- Wow! I didn’t expect this sitting down for the race on Tuesday, but I’m not surprised because of the roll this team is on. It’s very exciting to see Kurt and the Miller Lite team clicking so well and beginning to dominate the series after struggling a little bit earlier this year. He lead 92 laps; basically once he got up front he never left, and with the 10 extra points he’s putting himself in a good position once the Chase starts. I also must say that I think Kurt has done the coolest burnouts this year! I’m very proud of the distance this team has come, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what they can do if they make the Chase (which I think they will). They are still 12th in points, but 163 points in front of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Quotes:
“It was a great run for the Miller Lite Dodge. To be able to get the race underway was a relief. I thought we had a good car in practice, and it turned out to be true. We made one big adjustment at the end of Happy Hour and three days later we were able to put it to use. It really turned out great. It was a really smooth and steady day for us. We had to race some guys hard and got to move forward. We led some laps and put ourselves in position. That’s what it takes when you’re running for the Chase, to get in, its just smooth and steady effort. Pat made excellent pit calls. With all the restarts at the end, it challenged me to be my best and to be on top of my game with restarts and feeling the car out. This Dodge ran magnificent in the corners and the straightaway power was Penske/Jasper Power and it was great. It was a total team effort. You can’t leave anyone out. To be conservative is our approach and so far it’s worked out.”
I also loved this speech from Roger Penske!:
“Let me say this. Kurt Busch was a great driver from the very beginning. I was very disappointed in the situation that took place at Phoenix because Kurt did not have a DUI but it was thrown up that way. Then when he was let out of the team it aggravated a situation that we didn’t need. We’ve worked with Kurt. I think he sees the benefit. We brought him in as part of the family. Right out of the box he won a race for us his first year. I think he’s matured as all young men do. I’d rather have a guy that I’m pulling on his belt and having to kick him in the butt. I can tell you that. It’s all about race drivers here. We will work on the personality. We will work on the things you might need to do. I think Kurt appreciates what we’re putting behind him. As we do Ryan (Newman), as we do our other drivers on our team. And he’s delivering. I can tell you it’s making a huge difference. We’re always right on that half inch of being successful or behind. He certainly has demonstrated in the last races here how good he really is. I think he is right at the top of his game. His age, his experience and now with us giving him the tools that he needs he is going to be fine. I think it was the best move I ever made. We hung with him when he was down, face down quite honestly. Remember, we had a beer sponsor too. So it wasn’t the coolest time for me to walk into Phoenix with that going on. But the Miller Brewing Company stood behind him. The team has stood behind him and certainly you can see what has turned out to be a terrific team and some great success to date.”
Martin Truex Jr.: 2nd (started 14th)
- Despite come clutch problems hindering their pit stops, the Bass Pro Shops team was there at the end chasing down Kurt. Martin had little chance of making it was battle for the lead since Kurt was so dominant, but he made a valiant effort and padded his points lead on Chase competitors Dale Jr and Ryan Newman.
- Quotes:
“Great day. I just got to thank all the guys on the Bass Pro Chevrolet. They did a good job today. We had a little trouble. We got up to about eighth there and our last green flag stop the clutch went out and couldn't get off pit road and lost a bunch of spots and that was the best we'd been all day as far the car went so I was happy with the car and it was an easy decision to stay out there at the end. You know I had no clutch, I was going to get killed on pit road so we got some clean air, man, and that thing just went to diggin' so not a lot of fun at the end but I could smell the victory but congratulations to Kurt. He deserved it. It was a great win but great run for us, real proud of all the guys.”
Brian Vickers: 8th (started 18th)
- Brian is proof that these Camrys have horsepower and can be rocket ships when they’re set up right! From the drop of the flag he was picking off positions and by the end of the day would lead three times for 11 laps. Seeing Brian (and Dave Blaney) running so well is very encouraging because at the very least we know the Toyotas are capable of winning races.
- Quotes:
“We had a decent car. We were probably our worst there on the last restart. We were just too tight - we took two tires and no fuel. It was tight in front of us after that and it was just too much. We are definitely improving, we just need to keep working on it. We've gotten better and better. These guys do a great job. Toyota brought a new package this weekend - a new intake manifold - and that helped.”
Casey Mears: 11th (started 29th)
- I couldn’t believe how bad the 25 was at the start of the race – he went right to the very back of the field! Of course ESPN completely ignored this, and only by going on his forum was I able to get any clue what was wrong (which was a really bad vibration). Thankfully the vibration apparently didn’t amount to anything, because he eventually got the Lucky Dog and was back on the lead lap. As much as I couldn’t believe how bad he was at the drop of the green, I was equally surprised when he made his way back into 11th. A great recovery!
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 12th (started 39th)
- Junior had a great car and worked very well with teammate Martin to go from the back to the front. It looked like it was going to be a Top 10 day when a pit road mishap dropped him out of contention. As the Bud Chevy came down pit lane, Junior realized at the last second that he was right beside his pit stall, and he overshot. To avoid a penalty he had to back up, costing him a lot of time on the racetrack. I feel really bad for this team because they’re going to have to run really hard if they want to make it into the Chase, based on the results Martin and Kurt are putting up.
- Quotes:
“A big miscue on my part. Just was watching a car in his stall getting his tire changed and didn't realize that my pit was prior to his instead of after so I missed my stall. My fault totally. My guys have been great all day long. That motor, I can't believe it. It's just like. I don't know where it came from because I've been critical of our motor department in the past but that thing had to have been 20 (hp) better than anybody here, even my own teammates.”
David Reutimann: 23rd (started 12th)
- At first the Domino’s Camry was a relatively decent car and although David had some issues with its handling he remained in the Top 20 for quite some time. Unfortunately about mid-way through the race that went downhill and David became very irate over the radio. I felt incredibly bad for him because the frustration and desperation in his voice was so thick you could cut it with a knife! I was so impressed with Frankie and Shawn because they eventually calmed him down (he was getting so bad that his voice was a few octaves higher than it is normally) and David got back to work. 23rd is nothing to despair about and I think David realized that in the end. As I’ve said many times before, listening to this team is a lot of fun – the chemistry just flows from them.
- Quotes:
“I’m content with the finish we had today in the #00 Dominos.com Toyota. Of course, it’s a no-brainer that we would’ve preferred to finish better, but after three rough weekends in a row it’s nice to stay out of trouble and finish the race”
Michael Waltrip: 40th (started 11th)
- After a 10th-place finish at the first Michigan race, seeing Michael quickly drop to the back of the pack was very disappointing. A flat tire didn’t help and put him in a hole that he couldn’t get out of with an ill-handling car. When he wrecked I thought at first that he had it saved, but he didn’t keep the car stopped once he missed the wall; he turned left and Joe Nemechek crashed right into him. Part of me wishes that Michael just held the brake, but the other wishes Nemechek had been further down the track instead of rather close to the wall. It was just a sucky situation in general.
- Quotes:
"I just lost it. As long as I slid and nobody hit me I thought I'd be okay. But, then I slid and Joe did hit me as I was coming off the wall. I didn't know which way the wheels were pointing out there in so much fog and we spun out there a little bit. I was trying to let everybody get by and I think he was the last one to go by and he got me. I'm okay."
Dale Jarrett: DNQ
- Poor Dale…
Other Notes:
- Rain!! Is it monsoon season?!
- I must admit I wasn’t surprised when Montoya caused the first wreck of the race. And just like I expected, he dove it in the corner like a wild man and thought Blaney would yield…hmm, kind of like the All-Star race?
Kurt Busch: 1st (started 15th)
- Wow! I didn’t expect this sitting down for the race on Tuesday, but I’m not surprised because of the roll this team is on. It’s very exciting to see Kurt and the Miller Lite team clicking so well and beginning to dominate the series after struggling a little bit earlier this year. He lead 92 laps; basically once he got up front he never left, and with the 10 extra points he’s putting himself in a good position once the Chase starts. I also must say that I think Kurt has done the coolest burnouts this year! I’m very proud of the distance this team has come, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what they can do if they make the Chase (which I think they will). They are still 12th in points, but 163 points in front of Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Quotes:
“It was a great run for the Miller Lite Dodge. To be able to get the race underway was a relief. I thought we had a good car in practice, and it turned out to be true. We made one big adjustment at the end of Happy Hour and three days later we were able to put it to use. It really turned out great. It was a really smooth and steady day for us. We had to race some guys hard and got to move forward. We led some laps and put ourselves in position. That’s what it takes when you’re running for the Chase, to get in, its just smooth and steady effort. Pat made excellent pit calls. With all the restarts at the end, it challenged me to be my best and to be on top of my game with restarts and feeling the car out. This Dodge ran magnificent in the corners and the straightaway power was Penske/Jasper Power and it was great. It was a total team effort. You can’t leave anyone out. To be conservative is our approach and so far it’s worked out.”
I also loved this speech from Roger Penske!:
“Let me say this. Kurt Busch was a great driver from the very beginning. I was very disappointed in the situation that took place at Phoenix because Kurt did not have a DUI but it was thrown up that way. Then when he was let out of the team it aggravated a situation that we didn’t need. We’ve worked with Kurt. I think he sees the benefit. We brought him in as part of the family. Right out of the box he won a race for us his first year. I think he’s matured as all young men do. I’d rather have a guy that I’m pulling on his belt and having to kick him in the butt. I can tell you that. It’s all about race drivers here. We will work on the personality. We will work on the things you might need to do. I think Kurt appreciates what we’re putting behind him. As we do Ryan (Newman), as we do our other drivers on our team. And he’s delivering. I can tell you it’s making a huge difference. We’re always right on that half inch of being successful or behind. He certainly has demonstrated in the last races here how good he really is. I think he is right at the top of his game. His age, his experience and now with us giving him the tools that he needs he is going to be fine. I think it was the best move I ever made. We hung with him when he was down, face down quite honestly. Remember, we had a beer sponsor too. So it wasn’t the coolest time for me to walk into Phoenix with that going on. But the Miller Brewing Company stood behind him. The team has stood behind him and certainly you can see what has turned out to be a terrific team and some great success to date.”
Martin Truex Jr.: 2nd (started 14th)
- Despite come clutch problems hindering their pit stops, the Bass Pro Shops team was there at the end chasing down Kurt. Martin had little chance of making it was battle for the lead since Kurt was so dominant, but he made a valiant effort and padded his points lead on Chase competitors Dale Jr and Ryan Newman.
- Quotes:
“Great day. I just got to thank all the guys on the Bass Pro Chevrolet. They did a good job today. We had a little trouble. We got up to about eighth there and our last green flag stop the clutch went out and couldn't get off pit road and lost a bunch of spots and that was the best we'd been all day as far the car went so I was happy with the car and it was an easy decision to stay out there at the end. You know I had no clutch, I was going to get killed on pit road so we got some clean air, man, and that thing just went to diggin' so not a lot of fun at the end but I could smell the victory but congratulations to Kurt. He deserved it. It was a great win but great run for us, real proud of all the guys.”
Brian Vickers: 8th (started 18th)
- Brian is proof that these Camrys have horsepower and can be rocket ships when they’re set up right! From the drop of the flag he was picking off positions and by the end of the day would lead three times for 11 laps. Seeing Brian (and Dave Blaney) running so well is very encouraging because at the very least we know the Toyotas are capable of winning races.
- Quotes:
“We had a decent car. We were probably our worst there on the last restart. We were just too tight - we took two tires and no fuel. It was tight in front of us after that and it was just too much. We are definitely improving, we just need to keep working on it. We've gotten better and better. These guys do a great job. Toyota brought a new package this weekend - a new intake manifold - and that helped.”
Casey Mears: 11th (started 29th)
- I couldn’t believe how bad the 25 was at the start of the race – he went right to the very back of the field! Of course ESPN completely ignored this, and only by going on his forum was I able to get any clue what was wrong (which was a really bad vibration). Thankfully the vibration apparently didn’t amount to anything, because he eventually got the Lucky Dog and was back on the lead lap. As much as I couldn’t believe how bad he was at the drop of the green, I was equally surprised when he made his way back into 11th. A great recovery!
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 12th (started 39th)
- Junior had a great car and worked very well with teammate Martin to go from the back to the front. It looked like it was going to be a Top 10 day when a pit road mishap dropped him out of contention. As the Bud Chevy came down pit lane, Junior realized at the last second that he was right beside his pit stall, and he overshot. To avoid a penalty he had to back up, costing him a lot of time on the racetrack. I feel really bad for this team because they’re going to have to run really hard if they want to make it into the Chase, based on the results Martin and Kurt are putting up.
- Quotes:
“A big miscue on my part. Just was watching a car in his stall getting his tire changed and didn't realize that my pit was prior to his instead of after so I missed my stall. My fault totally. My guys have been great all day long. That motor, I can't believe it. It's just like. I don't know where it came from because I've been critical of our motor department in the past but that thing had to have been 20 (hp) better than anybody here, even my own teammates.”
David Reutimann: 23rd (started 12th)
- At first the Domino’s Camry was a relatively decent car and although David had some issues with its handling he remained in the Top 20 for quite some time. Unfortunately about mid-way through the race that went downhill and David became very irate over the radio. I felt incredibly bad for him because the frustration and desperation in his voice was so thick you could cut it with a knife! I was so impressed with Frankie and Shawn because they eventually calmed him down (he was getting so bad that his voice was a few octaves higher than it is normally) and David got back to work. 23rd is nothing to despair about and I think David realized that in the end. As I’ve said many times before, listening to this team is a lot of fun – the chemistry just flows from them.
- Quotes:
“I’m content with the finish we had today in the #00 Dominos.com Toyota. Of course, it’s a no-brainer that we would’ve preferred to finish better, but after three rough weekends in a row it’s nice to stay out of trouble and finish the race”
Michael Waltrip: 40th (started 11th)
- After a 10th-place finish at the first Michigan race, seeing Michael quickly drop to the back of the pack was very disappointing. A flat tire didn’t help and put him in a hole that he couldn’t get out of with an ill-handling car. When he wrecked I thought at first that he had it saved, but he didn’t keep the car stopped once he missed the wall; he turned left and Joe Nemechek crashed right into him. Part of me wishes that Michael just held the brake, but the other wishes Nemechek had been further down the track instead of rather close to the wall. It was just a sucky situation in general.
- Quotes:
"I just lost it. As long as I slid and nobody hit me I thought I'd be okay. But, then I slid and Joe did hit me as I was coming off the wall. I didn't know which way the wheels were pointing out there in so much fog and we spun out there a little bit. I was trying to let everybody get by and I think he was the last one to go by and he got me. I'm okay."
Dale Jarrett: DNQ
- Poor Dale…
Other Notes:
- Rain!! Is it monsoon season?!
- I must admit I wasn’t surprised when Montoya caused the first wreck of the race. And just like I expected, he dove it in the corner like a wild man and thought Blaney would yield…hmm, kind of like the All-Star race?